Police are reminding you not to leave your furry friends in the car when its hot out.

This after Woodstock cops were called to a mall parking yesterday where a dog was locked in a van.

Animal cruelty charges are pending against the dog's owner.

This week a Kingston man was charged under the Ontario SPCA Act after leaving his dog in a hot car in Toronto back in June.

Police had to break into an SUV parked at the Queen's Quay Loblaws to let Parker out.  The dog got loose & ran onto the Gardiner & stopped traffic for awhile.

Parker's owner is charged with permitting distress.  If convicted, he could be jailed for 2 years & be fined up to $60 000.  He could also be banned from ever owning another animal again.

***With files from Russ Courtney